Viliame Naupoto

He joined the Republic of Fiji Military Forces in 1982 and served in the Fiji Navy.^[1] In 1994 he was the Captain of the newly commissioned RFNS Kula.^[2] During his time in the military, he served as the Commander of Fiji Navy, Director Finance and Logistics and Commander.^[1] While serving as Navy Commander, Naupoto was arrested drink-driving. His case file subsequently went missing from the Nabua police station,^[3] but was eventually found, and he was convicted and fined US$100.^[4]

Following the 2006 Fijian coup d'état Naupoto was appointed Director of Immigration by the military, and was responsible for placing travel bans on the regime's opponents.^[5] He also deported legal representatives of regime opponents.^[6] After being sent to India for training,^[7] he was appointed Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office,^[8] and then chair of the Fiji Trade and Investment Board^[9][10] and Permanent Secretary of the Department of Fisheries and Forests.^[11] In February 2012 he was appointed Minister of Youth and Sports in the military cabinet.^[12]

Naputo was selected as a FijiFirst candidate for the 2014 Fijian general election,^[13] but not elected. Following the election he returned to the military, serving as chief of staff.^[14][15] Following the sudden resignation of RFMF Commander Mosese Tikoitoga in August 2015 he was appointed acting commander.^[16] The appointment was made permanent in March 2016.^[17][18] In November 2015 he was promoted to Rear Admiral.^[19] When Jioji Konrote was elected President of Fiji in October 2015, Naupoto became eligible for a seat in Parliament as his replacement, but turned it down to stay in the military.^[20] He retired from the RFMF in March 2021,^[21] and was replaced as RFMF Commander by Jone Kalouniwai in September 2021.^[22][23]

He was selected again as a FijiFirst candidate for the 2022 election,^[24][25] and was elected with 830 votes.^[26][27] Following the election he was appointed as Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.^[28]

Following the collapse and deregistration of FijiFirst he remained in parliament as an independent, but said that he would support the government of Sitiveni Rabuka.^[29] He was subsequently appointed chief whip of the opposition Group of 9 Bloc.^[30] On 10 January 2025, he was sworn as Minister of Immigration under Rabuka's government.^[31]

In November 2014 Naupoto was made an Officer of the Order of Fiji.^[32]